Cycling vs. Running

Cycling vs. Running: Which Should You Be Taking Up This Spring?

Pain And Injuries

I have a friend with a Ph.D in biomechanics who is the director of the Running Injury Clinic at the University of Calgary.

I don’t know of a “Cycling Injury Clinic.” I’m not saying you can’t get injured while cycling, but I’d argue running injuries are more prevalent. The things I notice get the most sore from cycling are my balls, from getting mashed into the seat, and my neck, from having to tilt my head back to see where I’m going. Running, conversely, has the ability to cause pain from the eyebrows on down.

Winner: Cycling

Racing

Foot races are prevalent the world over. There are 5Ks, 10Ks, half and full and ultra-marathons. Any decent-sized city will have your choice of races, and entering them can be very motivating because it forces you to train and pushes you to get better.

Conversely, it’s harder to find many races for cycling. Often they’re part of a triathlon, which requires a running and a swimming component.

Winner: Running

Bad Weather

I run more in the winter than in the summer, with the simple explanation being that I hate riding my bike in snow and freezing cold. I can handle any kind of weather when it comes to running, and any kind of slippery surface. Although there are spikes you can get for riding in snow and on ice, at a certain point — and this is just my personal opinion — you just start to wonder why the hell you want to do this. To me, cycling is enjoyment first, fitness second. Conversely, running is fitness first, enjoyment second. I can handle “suffering” in brutal weather conditions on foot, but on a bike, I prefer it to be above freezing, and preferably not pissing down rain.

Winner: Running

Overall

Truth be told, there is no winner. It’s about analyzing the various categories and deciding what’s right for you. Running wins for time, cost, racing and weather, but cycling is tops for enjoyment, commuting, ease of adoption and injury avoidance. Maybe you’ll decide both have something to offer.